Rural 'taxibus' services boosted

The service would help people in rural areas

A scheme to provide "taxibus" services to rural areas of West Yorkshire has been awarded £870,000 of government funding.

People in the Colne Valley and Scammonden Dean areas could use the five to eight-seat vehicles to get buses and trains at Sowerby Bridge and at Slaithwaite.

Routes would be semi-fixed at peak times but would have more flexibility during the rest of the day.

The Metro rural bus project is a partnership with district councils, the Kirklees Pennine Rural Transport Partnership and the Calderdale Rural Transport Partnership.

Transport partnership

Metro chairman Councillor Mick Lyons said: "This is great news for people in the countryside around the Colne Valley and Scammonden Dean.

"Pennine Taxibuses will provide links with the county's comprehensive bus and train networks for people living in these remote rural areas.

"Due to the steep hills and narrow twisting roads, it is impossible for conventional bus services to operate."

Local people will be consulted about the scheme whcih could be up and running next year.